Transexuality: Human Rights Court

Lord Carlile of Berriew: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What have been the costs to date of defending cases brought against the Government in the European Court of Human Rights by transsexual British people.

Baroness Amos: To date, the UK Government have never lost a case at the European Court of Human Rights on transsexuality. To calculate the legal costs of defending these cases, which would have been met by various government departments, would involve disproportionate cost.

Sudan

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Answer by Baroness Amos on 17 January (HL Deb, cols. 1177-80) whether they consider their growing trade links with the regime in Khartoum to be consistent with the continuing embargo on development assistance to Sudan.

Baroness Amos: There is no trade embargo on Sudan. Companies make their own decisions based on commercial factors. Neither is there an embargo on development assistance. We do not believe Sudan can make sustained progress towards reducing poverty without peace and political stability. However, there is an EU arms embargo on Sudan which the UK helped to initiate in 1994. We implement this rigorously and expect it to remain for as long as the civil war continues.

Sudan

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their reponse to continuing attacks by the military forces of the Sudan on unarmed civilians, including those receiving food and medical aid officially provided by the World Food Programme.

Baroness Amos: We have expressed our very serious concern about the attacks. We have asked the Sudanese Government for an urgent explanation and to make clear what steps they will be taking to avoid such incidents in the future.

Sudan

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they consider that the European Union was wise to resume development aid to the Sudan after the United States had unsuccessfully asked the Sudanese Government to cease bombing targets in southern Sudan; and whether they will ask for all such aid to be made conditional on a comprehensive ceasefire and the start of peace negotiations.

Baroness Amos: We are content with the European Union action because the proposed resumption is firmly linked to peaceful resolution of the civil war.

Retail Crime

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 28 November 2001 (WA 38) on retail crime, what representations they have had on the subject since the reply; and what developments there have been in regard to the funding of help for retailers to enhance the security of their premises.

Lord Rooker: My noble friend will recall that he wrote to me on 14 January forwarding representations he had received about the problems caused to retailers by the anti-social behaviour of groups of young people gathering outside their stores. I replied on 21 February detailing measures we are taking to address the serious problem of anti-social behaviour. There have also been continuing discussions and correspondence between Ministers and officials at the Home Office and retail representative and trade organisations about crime which impacts on retailers.
	My right honourable friend the Minister of State at the Home Office with responsibility for crime reduction (Mr Denham) also announced, on 6 February, those schemes which have been allocated funding in the first year of the scheme to assist small retail businesses in deprived areas. These first year allocations, totalling £2.9 million, will provide direct assistance to over 2,700 businesses in England and Wales. It is hoped that thousands more businesses will benefit from funding of £5.8 million in each of the following two years.

Mobile Phones and Driving

Baroness Hayman: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which police forces have undertaken specific campaigns to support the Highway Code guidance that drivers should not use mobile phones while driving.

Lord Rooker: Information about road safety campaigns conducted by individual police forces is not held centrally.
	The Association of Chief Police Officers has made all police forces aware of the Government's THINK! road safety campaign and its associated website. Mobile phones and driving is part of this campaign and a new campaign on mobile phones and driving is planned for April. The Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions also produces a leaflet on the subject which is used by the police and others.

Fingerprint Identification

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by Lord Rooker on 25 February (WA 172–73), what are the objective criteria and prescribed verification procedures for fingerprint identification used in evidence in criminal trials.

Lord Rooker: To determine whether or not a crime scene mark and a fingerprint impression have been made by the same person, the fingerprint examiner must carry out a process of analysis, comparison and evaluation by determining whether in each impression friction ridge features are of a compatible type; they are in the same relative position to each other in the ridge structure; they are in the same sequence; there is sufficient quantative and qualitative detail in each in agreement; and there are any areas of apparent or real discrepancy. The examiner must address all these issues before declaring that both mark and impression have been made by the same person.
	The next stage is verification. The examiner's conclusion must be verified independently by two other officers who must both be fingerprint experts. Any mark/impression identification notified to investigating officers and presented in court will have, and must have, been subject to the above procedures.

Animals in Scientific Procedures

Baroness Ludford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What contact they have had with the European Commission with regard to the preparations which the Commission is making to revise Directive 86/609/EEC, particularly with regard to the use of non-human primates in research.

Lord Rooker: We have welcomed the Commission's intention to revise European Directive 86/609/EEC dealing with the protection of vertebrate animals used in scientific procedures. Home Office officials (representing the United Kingdom) attended the 19th meeting of National Competent Authorities on 29 November 2001 and offered some preliminary suggestions on possible amendments to the directive. Most of the suggestions are matters of updating or clarification and do not raise substantive issues of principle. Instead, they represent features of the United Kingdom system of controls that would make better provision for the protection of animals, and for a level playing field in economic terms if implemented at European level.
	We believe that the directive could be enhanced both by changes to the text and also by guidance on the definition and interpretation of key terms. We have recommended that consideration should be given to strengthening the status of Annex II of Directive 86/609/EEC, dealing with the housing and care of laboratory animals, by making it clear that Annex II sets out the minimum standards required rather than simply providing guidelines. We have not at this stage made any specific reference to the use of non-human primates.
	We will ensure that the United Kingdom plays a full part in the further work on the revision of the directive.

Taxation

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What the top rate of direct tax on personal incomes was in the United Kingdom for each year from 1970–71 to 2001–02; and whether they will publish these figures in the same form as those previously given in the Official Report of November 2000 (WA 149–150).
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: An updated verson of the table given in my reply to the noble Lord of 29 November (WA 149–150) is given below:
	
		
			  Single, non-aged personal allowance for a man with children Taxable income above which the highest rate is charged Highest rate of income tax charged Retail Price Index Single, non-aged personal allowance for a man with no children at 2000–01 prices Taxable income above which the highest rate is charged at 2000–01 prices 
			  £ £ %  £ £ 
			 1970–71 325 20,000 91.25 18.92 2,943 181,105 
			 1971–72 325 20,000 88.75 20.67 2,694 165,772 
			 1972–73 460 20,000 93.75 22.13 3,561 154,835 
			 1973–74 595 20,000 90.00 24.45 4,169 140,143 
			 1974–75 625 20,000 98.00 28.82 3,715 118,893 
			 1975–96 675 20,000 98.00 35.91 3,220 95,419 
			 1976–77 735 20,000 98.00 41.40 3,042 82,766 
			 1977–78 945 21,000 98.00 47.19 3,431 76,241 
			 1978–79 965 24,000 98.00 51.11 3,235 80,450 
			 1979–80 1,165 25,000 75.00 59.19 3,372 72,362 
			 1980–81 1,375 27,750 75.00 68.85 3,422 69,053 
			 1981–82 1,375 27,750 75.00 76.77 3,069 61,929 
			 1982–83 1,565 31,500 75.00 82.20 3,262 65,654 
			 1983–84 1,785 36,000 75.00 86.03 3,555 71,692 
			 1984–85 2,005 38,100 60.00 90.37 3,801 72,231 
			 1985–86 2,205 40,200 60.00 95.71 3,947 71,960 
			 1986–87 2,335 41,200 60.00 98.78 4,050 71,458 
			 1987–88 2,425 41,200 60.00 102.72 4,045 68,717 
			 1988–89 2,605 19,300 40.00 108.88 4,099 30,369 
			 1989–90 2,785 20,700 40.00 117,38 4,065 30,213 
			 1990–91 3,005 20,700 40.00 128.74 3,999 27,547 
			 1991–92 3,295 23,700 40.00 134.85 4,186 30,111 
			 1992–93 3,445 23,700 40.00 139.11 4,243 29,188 
			 1993–94 3,445 23,700 40.00 141.48 4,172 28,699 
			 1994–95 3,445 23,700 40.00 145.35 4,061 27,935 
			 1995–96 3,525 24,300 40.00 150.08 4,024 27,740 
			 1996–97 3,765 25,500 40.00 153.73 4,196 28,419 
			 1997–98 4,045 26,100 40.00 158.81 4,364 28,157 
			 1998–99 4,195 27,100 40.00 163.76 4,389 28,352 
			 1999–2000 4,335 28,000 40.00 166.35 4,465 28,837 
			 2000–01 4,385 28,400 40.00 171.33 4,385 28,400 
			 2001–02 4,535 29,400 40.00 note 3 note 3 note 3 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. For 1970–71 to 1972–73 the highest rate shown is the standard rate of income tax plus the highest rate of surtax.
	2. For 1973–74 to 1983–84, the highest rate charged includes investment income surcharge at 15 per cent, but this total rate would only apply if the taxpayer's income included investment income greater than the threshold for the highest rate of surcharge, which varied between £2,000 in 1973–74 and £7,100 in 1983–84.
	3. RPI available only up to January 2002.

Reserve Forces

Lord Clinton-Davis: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans the Ministry of Defence has for a further call-out of the reserve forces.

Lord Bach: In order to sustain military operations against terrorism, up to 49 members of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force will be called out compulsorily next month under the call-out order made on 11 October 2001 and Section 54 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996. The majority of those called out will undertake aircraft movements duties at the air transport main operating bases in the UK.
	In addition, a new call-out order has been made under Section 56 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 to enable reservists to continue to be called out to support operations in Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This took effect from 2 March 2002, the date the previous order expired. Only reservists who volunteer will be called out under this order.
	We continue to call out members of the reserve forces to support operations in the Balkans and the no-fly zones in the region of Iraq. Overall they make a very valuable contribution to our operational requirements.

Technical Legislation: European Commission Notification

Lord Skelmersdale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Under what criteria and when they refer Bills to the European Commission under Directive 98/48 (No. L217 page 18 of 5 August 1998).

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Directive 98/34/EC, as amended by Directive 98/48/EC (the directive), is applicable in broad terms to proposed national measures relating to industrially manufactured products, agricultural products or information society services. Notification of such proposed measures in draft is required if they will contain technical regulations; that is, technical specifications, other requirements or rules on services (as defined by the directive); and
	(a) observance of the relevant provisions is compulsory in the case of marketing, provision of an information society service, establishment of an information society service operator or use of the product or service in the whole or major part of a member state; or
	(b) they prohibit the manufacture, importation, marketing or use of a product, or prohibit the provision or use of an information society service or establishment as an information society service provider; unless exemptions specified in the directive apply.
	When a Bill is notifiable it will, in accordance with the directive, be notified at a stage of preparation at which substantial amendments can still be made. todd

BSE

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the results from research undertaken by Professor Wilesmith showing that neither calves nor their surrogate mothers contracted BSE, what steps are they taking to establish why 500 animals in the United Kingdom contracted the disease in 2001.

Lord Whitty: The major cause of BSE cases has been the contamination of ruminant feed with mammalian meat and bone meal (MBM) containing the disease agent. Measures in place to protect animal health have been significantly strengthened over time, notably in 1995 and 1996. Of course measures taken will not protect cattle already incubating the disease but will prevent further infection through feed. The normal range of the incubation period makes it inevitable that further cases, which were infected before the enhanced measures became effective, will continue to appear, albeit at a declining rate.
	More significant are BSE cases borne after 1 August 1996 when UK feed controls are considered to have been fully effective. The department continues to examine veterinary advice on the possible causes of all such cases for evidence of control failure or new routes of transmission of the disease. Such routes may include maternal transmission, environmental contamination or contamination of imported feed ingredients. To date, BSE has been confirmed in 14 animals born in the UK after 1 August 1996.

Foot and Mouth Disease

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many of the local disease control centres conducted disease awareness campaigns or disease preparedness exercises as laid down in Article 5.5 of the Foot and Mouth Disease Contingency Plans for Great Britain, last revised in July 2000, prior to February 2001; and what are the current arrangements.

Lord Whitty: The department regularly holds emergency exercises involving notifiable animal diseases which may involve liaison with the police and other enforcement bodies. Such exercises are generally authorised and supervised by the divisional veterinary manager or regionally by a head of veterinary service.
	Detailed information on the number of emergency exercises specifically related to foot and mouth disease is not held centrally and can only be collected at disproportionate cost. However, between 1994 and 1999 MAFF carried out 84 separate exercises aimed at planning to control notifiable animal diseases. todd

Foot and Mouth Disease

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether all local and national disease control centres were aware of the drawing rights for vaccines that had been laid down in Article 10.1 of the Foot and Mouth Disease Contingency Plans for Great Britain, last revised in July 2000.

Lord Whitty: The National Disease Control Centre was aware of the drawing rights for vaccines under Article 10.1 of the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Contingency Plans which gave us access to antigen sufficient for 500,000 doses of vaccine for each of a number of FMD strains. Indeed, these drawing rights were used and the relevant antigen was formulated as a contingency measure during the 2001 outbreak.
	In the event of a decision to vaccinate, the National Disease Control Centre would have responsibility for the procurement and distribution of vaccine, so the local disease control centres do not need to be aware of the drawing rights.

Foot and Mouth Disease

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many members of the State Veterinary Service and local disease control centre staff had undergone training to enable them to deal with a possible outbreak of foot and mouth disease prior to February 2001; how many had undertaken refresher training courses as laid down in the Foot and Mouth Disease Contingency Plans for Great Britain, last revised in July 2000; how frequently refresher courses were conducted; and what are the current arrangements for training in this field.

Lord Whitty: Veterinary officers of the State Veterinary Service attend an initial veterinary officer training course which incorporates one day's training on foot and mouth disease and other exotic diseases. Training includes a visit to the Pirbright Laboratory. Refresher training is provided by line managers. Training in the form of contingency planning exercises takes place at least once a year at animal health offices. Staff also receive ad-hoc training on an ongoing basis on a range of disease control work (e.g. training on computer systems). The training arrangements for dealing with BMD outbreaks remain in place, although SVS managers are already reviewing their local training requirements. todd

Foot and Mouth Disease

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, prior to February 2001, all the stipulated livestock keepers had received adequate and regular advice from members of the State Veterinary Service on statutory disease control procedures; whether they were kept aware of national and international animal disease risks as laid down in Article 12.4 of the Foot and Mouth Disease Contingency Plans for Great Britain, last revised in July 2000; and what are the current arrangements for keeping these livestock keepers informed.

Lord Whitty: The regime of visits and inspections described in the contingency plan ensures that the State Veterinary Service comes into contact with many livestock farmers. However, livestock farmers closest contact is with local veterinary inspectors, who are private veterinary surgeons approved by my department to undertake certain official duties.
	There is currently no system in place for monitoring the delivery or effectiveness of animal disease control information to farmers. This is something that we will wish to consider as part of the department's lessons learned exercise.

Ecolabelling

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, as the competent body responsible for implementing the European Ecolabelling Award Scheme in the United Kingdom, has taken to promote awareness of the scheme among business and consumers.

Lord Whitty: We consult widely with business and other interested organisations in the UK as the ecolabelling criteria for different product groups are being developed to ensure they are aware of new proposals and have opportunities to comment. Part of the department's website gives full background to the scheme and explains the advantages of participating (www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ecolabel/index.htm). We have published a promotional leaflet for business and consumers, called Pick the Flower, and last year we produced the first in a series of point-of-sale leaflets for consumers about specific product types. Plans are under way to issue a newsletter for business and consumers about greener products in order to raise general awareness of good practice on environmental labelling and to encourage participation in authoritative schemes like the EU Ecolabel. Barry

On-product Environmental Claims

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which department is co-ordinating government policy on on-product environmental claims.

Lord Whitty: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has overall responsibility for promoting a good standard of environmental information in on-product claims. The Department of Trade and Industry is responsible for the consumer protection regimes under which action can be taken against false or misleading claims. The two departments work closely together on the development of policy across this area.

Choosing Green Report

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will respond to the Advisory Committee on Consumer Products and Environment's first report Choosing Green: Towards more sustainable goods and services.

Lord Whitty: The Minister for the Environment wrote to the Chair of the Advisory Committee on Consumer Products and the Environment, Dr Alan Knight, on 13 November 2000 welcoming the report and indicating how the Government proposed to take forward the committee's main recommendations for action. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library of the House. Since then the committee has received regular reports on progress from officials.

Drink Containers: Deposit Systems

Baroness Sharp of Guildford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many member states of the European Union have laws requiring deposits on all sales of (a) bottles and (b) cans of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Lord Whitty: We have looked at the position in a number of European countries regarding laws on deposit systems for drink containers. Of the member states of the European Union, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Holland and Sweden have laws involving deposits on cans and bottles. The schemes vary in detail but they all have the common aim of encouraging re-use and recycling and a reduction in the amount of one-way containers flowing into the waste stream. Barry

Sustainable Development

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which Minister has overall responsibility for the preparations for the United Nations World Summit in Johannesburg in August 2002.

Lord Whitty: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State has lead responsibility for government policy on sustainable development, including preparations for the World Summit for Sutstainable Development (WSSD).
	My right honourable friend the Prime Minister, who will lead the UK delegation at WSSD, has established a Cabinet Committee (MISC 18), chaired by my right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister, to co-ordinate and develop the Government's strategy for WSSD.

Sustainable Development

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which Minister has overall responsibility for sustainable development in the United Kingdom.

Lord Whitty: Sustainable development is a priority for the Government as a whole; all departments and all Ministers have a responsibility to contribute. Defra is the lead department and my right honourable friend the Secretary of State has overall responsibility.

Albanian-speaking Unaccompanied Minors

Lord Carlile of Berriew: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many Albanian-speaking unaccompanied minors were registered by each of the London boroughs in the years 1999–2001 respectively and (where figures are available) in other major local government areas in the United Kingdom.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Information on the number of unaccompanied minors by language spoken is not collected centrally. The London Asylum Seekers Consortium collects information on the estimated number of unaccompanied minors seeking assistance in each of the London boroughs according to country of origin, not language spoken. This information suggests that, in total, there are an estimated 242 unaccompanied minors from Albania and an estimated 1,261 from Kosovo (of whom the majority is likely to speak Albanian) currently seeking assistance in all London boroughs (as of 5 March 2002).
	Figures for other major local government areas in the United Kingdom are not collated or held centrally. Barry
	
		Summary of Current Cases by Country of Origin and Placing Authority
		
			 Country of Origin Number of Cases 
			 Albania  
			 Barking and Dagenham 43 
			 Barnet 1 
			 Bexley 14 
			 Camden 2 
			 City corporation of London 1 
			 Croydon 9 
			 Ealing 9 
			 Greenwich 54 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 7 
			 Haringey 8 
			 Harrow 5 
			 Hounslow 7 
			 Islington 12 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 3 
			 Lambeth 11 
			 Lewisham 12 
			 Newham 2 
			 Redbridge 3 
			 Southwark 8 
			 Waltham Forest 27 
			 Westminster 4 
			  
			  242 
			 Kosovo  
			 Barking and Dagenham 191 
			 Barnet 31 
			 Bexley 14 
			 Camden 24 
			 City corporation of London 8 
			 Croydon 54 
			 Ealing 58 
			 Greenwich 30 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 50 
			 Haringey 51 
			 Harrow 23 
			 Havering 14 
			 Hounslow 10 
			 Islington 130 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 39 
			 Kingston upon Thames 6 
			 Lambeth 20 
			 Lewisham 51 
			 Merton 35 
			 Newham 29 
			 Redbridge 132 
			 Richmond upon Thames 31 
			 Southwark 73 
			 Sutton 3 
			 Waltham Forest 100 
			 Westminster 54 
			  
			  1,261

Gambling

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which health authorities have developed strategies for dealing with problem gambling; and
	What plans the Secretary of State for Health has to recognise problem gambling as a health problem.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Pathological gambling is a diagnosable psychiatric disorder. National Health Service mental health services would be expected to offer assessment and appropriate support, treatment and onward referral to those with severe problem gambling.

Smallpox Vaccine

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many doses of anti-smallpox vaccine are held in the United Kingdom; and what plans they have to increase that quantity.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Strategic stocks of smallpox vaccine are held which could be rapidly deployed to contain any outbreak. However, it is not our policy to provide details concerning quantities of vaccine as this information could aid planning of a bioterrorist attack.
	The United Kingdom policy on future smallpox vaccine manufacture is currently under review. The Department of Health is working closely with the Ministry of Defence in determining the UK's vaccine needs. We are also in discussions with other governments about stocks of vaccine.

Human Organs and Tissue Removal

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What limitations will be placed on the extraction of organs, bone marrow, cells or other tissue from a designed baby; and what protection will be provided against the imposition of significant pain upon the designed baby during medical procedures to extract organs, bone marrow, cells or other tissue.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: All children who are unable to give informed consent to medical procedures, no matter what the circumstances of their conception, have considerable protection in law to safeguard their best interests.
	In any lawful clinical intervention likely to involve pain, practitioners will need to consider what action to take, including the provision of suitable analgesia or sedation.
	The Government are currently reviewing the law on the removal, retention and use of human organs and tissue from both living people and those who have died. A report will be published shortly for consultation.

Lancashire: Care Homes

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the purpose of the investigation by officials of the Social Services Inspectorate into Lancashire County Council's proposal to close 35 of its 48 homes for the elderly which has been ordered by Health Minister, Jacqui Smith MP; what is the timescale of the investigation; to whom it will report; and whether the findings will be published.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Social Services Inspectorate has been closely monitoring Lancashire County Council since it was placed under special measures in February 2000. Following the publication of the council's proposals to close a number of its care homes, the SSI is following closely the work undertaken by the council to assess its current care provision and to consult on future strategies with the National Health Service, local people and other interested parties. In line with the code of practice on open government, the analyses which the SSI will be passing to Ministers on a regular basis will not be published in order to permit frank discussions with the council.

NHS Trusts

Lord Hughes of Woodside: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What financial arrangements are being made in respect of (a) the NHS trusts dissolved and (b) the new NHS trusts and primary care trusts established in 2001–02.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Pursuant to the dissolution of 64 National Health Service trusts on 1 April 2001 and their reconfiguration through the establishment of 29 new NHS trusts, we propose to create originating capital for the new NHS trusts equal to the net assets transferred to them and therefore to remit the outstanding debt of the dissolved trusts.
	A number of primary care trusts were also established during the year. Public dividend capital is not required for the establishment of new primary care trusts as they are subject to a different financial regime. Net assets transferred from dissolving NHS trusts to primary care trusts are reflected in the general fund of the primary care trust.
	These operations involved no overall loss to the Exchequer. Her Majesty's Treasury has presented a minute on 8 March to the House giving particulars and circumstances of the proposed remission which it has approved in principle.

Civil Service

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to introduce measures to strengthen the independence of the Civil Service.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: In their responses to reports from the Committee on Standards in Public Life and the Public Administration Select Committee, the Government committed themselves to introducing legislation for the Civil Service and to consultation in advance of legislation.